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Editor's Note: This article is a exclusive, sneakpeek of GCI's May Issue, which is focused entirely on the topic of sustainability in golf and important role superintendents and their crews play.

They are pretty to look at and slow moving on land at the Bay Course at New Jersey’s Seaview Resort. What are they? No, not well-heeled vacationing golfers but Northern Diamondback Terrapins.

Seaview, an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, has for a number of years been involved in protecting the turtle’s nesting areas that are near, and sometimes on, playing areas. The resort has partnered with the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and the Wetlands Institute on the project. The Diamondback Terrapin is the only species of turtle that inhabits brackish coastal marshes, which the Bay Course is located near.

It is not uncommon for the turtles to actually lay their eggs in bunkers on the Bay Course during the spring, and the maintenance staff takes all precautions to create minimum disturbance to the eggs once they have been identified in sand bunkers, while allowing play to continue around the nests.

In addition, 15 young Diamondback Terrapins have been released into the wild on the property, as well as several rehabilitated terrapins that were hurt by predators or vehicles. With a donation of $500, microchips were planted on a Terrapin to trace migration patterns, nesting habits and general population numbers.

Bay Course superintendent Donovan Maguigan says the effort is not without its bumps. As mentioned, the turtle sometimes nest and lay their eggs in the bunkers of the Bay Course. They migrate from Reeds Bay’s marshes during the day and lay their eggs in the soft sand of the bunkers before returning to the marshes. This occurs over the period of several weeks. During that time, the turtles can be seen tracking through bunkers. “We have accepted this, educated our guests, and have taken necessary options to prevent disturbance.”

Naturally, while trying to run a golf course, such coexistence between golfers and turtles requires the dissemination of information and education to explain to Seaview’s staff, guests, and members that the turtles are not to be disturbed, and Maguigan says there has been little misunderstanding about the effort.

“Our guests and members have been very receptive, helpful and accepting from the start of the program,” he says. “There has been a strong support from the local community. During the early implementation of the program, there was a considerable amount of outreach with local schools, environmental initiatives and Stockton College. Our owners and Stockton College are committed to being as environmentally aware and conscious as much as possible. Caring for the turtles and working to protect their environment is a logical and natural choice for us.”

Caring for the turtles (being aware of them, not disturbing the nesting process, protecting eggs, educating golfers) hasn't proven costly. A majority of the work that has been done is education and outreach efforts pertaining to how the resort approaches and accommodates the turtles. Says Maguigan, “There has not been any extensive spending. Any work on the project comes in the course of our normal work and doesn't require a great deal of financial input.”

The resort openly embraces the Terrapins and in 2012, opened a small nine-hole bentgrass putting course that was appropriately named “The Turtle Course” in respect to the turtles. Says Maguigan, “We hope that aside from providing an additional amenity to the golfers here, we hope the putting course and its name will continue to raise awareness of the Diamondback Terrapins, just as the project raised our awareness.”
John Torsiello is a Torrington, Conn-based freelance writer and frequent GCI contributor.

Don't monkey around!

So you're probably sitting there right now thinking, "I'd really enjoy seeing a dancing monkey while simultaneously expanding my knowledge of the business." We can do that for you. Here's our latest app edition!

Rick Robbins elected ASGCA president

Rick Robbins, ASGCA, was elected President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) at the organization’s recent 67th Annual Meeting in Greensboro, Ga.

The Cary, N.C., resident heads Robbins & Associates International. His career has included golf course designs and master plans created in 24 states in the U.S. and 11 countries around the world, including China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

As ASGCA President, Robbins said, “I want to work with our friends at the Allied Associations of Golf to find creative ways to combat the three primary issues that prevent golf from growing: the difficulty of the game for most players, the cost to play and the time it takes to complete an average round.

“Looking at new ways to make golf more acceptable to kids as a regular activity is a start, but we as golf architects must also do our part to encourage our clients whenever possible to think about the cost of golf courses and how difficult they want to make them,” he added.

Robbins started his design career and spent 13 years with von Hagge & Devlin, Inc. He served as Vice President of Planning & Golf Course Development for Nicklaus/Sierra Development Corporation, then was asked by Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA Fellow, to join Nicklaus Design as Senior Design Associate in the Hong Kong office. Robbins formed his own company in 1991. His courses have been recognized with local, national and international awards, including a Best New Affordable Public Golf Course in the U.S. designation by “Golf Digest Magazine.”

Stand strong

Solid turf starts with building a balanced environment with bionutrition.

Dr. Haim B. Gunner is an Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Massachusetts. His research interests have included studies in microbial ecology and the biological control of insect pests in plant disease. He is currently Chief Scientist of the Performance Nutrition Division of LidoChem, Inc. Here, he offers some thoughts about bionutrients and their importance to golf course turf health.

In what ways can bionutrients/stimulants help protect turf this year, especially considering the challenging weather some areas of the country experienced this winter?

Bionutrients can best help protect turf against the detrimental impact of stressful environmental conditions, such as drought and water stress, by incorporating them into a systematic program of stress tolerance. The goal of such a program should be to remedy conditions such as poor or imbalanced turf nutrition, low C.E.C. (cation exchange capacity), poor soil quality, and diminished microbial populations that could make turf vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. Microbial bionutrients play a significant role in this system of stress reduction. This system should also include components such as seaweed extract, humate derivatives and amino acids, among others, so that they can work to combat the impact of climatic extremes.

What are the most important things superintendents can do with bionutrients this summer to build up and protect their turf through the summer weather and into the fall?

The superintendent should do everything to support the major driver of the turf ecosystem, which is the soil microbial population and its organic substrates. Providing bionutrients and stimulants will enhance early root and shoot development as well as optimum nutrient uptake.
Have bionutrient products proven to be effective in hot weather?

Where drought is anticipated, amino acids, seaweed extract, humates, and mycorrhizae may serve to increase root development in order to help reduce heat and drought stress.
Can you tell me about some of the most exciting developments in bionutrition/stimulants during the past few years?

The most important development has been the ability to use bionutrition in a reliable system. There have been some exciting products, which not only supply turf nutrition but build a more sustainable soil and reduces nitrate runoff into the water supply.

Of course, the genetic transformations of turf strains and their potential resistance to disease and environmental stress (which will result in increased efficiency of bionutrients/stimulants) are also pretty exciting.
Where are we headed with bionutrients/stimulants?

Bionutrients/stimulants will be integrated into an ecosystem management approach in which they will be applied in a program designed to correlate soil environment, major nutrients, microclimate and water regimen.
Are there certain areas of the country where bionutrients/stimulants would be more of a help to turf than in other areas?

The application of bionutrients/stimulants can be customized to respond to the needs of diverse turf environments: Areas of low rainfall and arid soils, such as in the Southwest, soils of limited organic matter and soils with saline contamination, would all be particular beneficiaries of bionutrient/stimulant applications.